A cry for help: Preventing passive euthanasia decision-making for neonates with non-fatal congenital defects

摘要

Several years ago, in a Midwestern town, a baby boy named Peter was born with spina bifida, a congenital defect that causes a portion of the spinal cord to protrude outside of the vertebrae. Peter's parents were a low-income couple, and they did not expect their child to be born with this condition. When the physician sat down with the couple to discuss Peter's congenital defect, he told them how their son's condition would require multiple operations. Also, even if those operations were successful, Peter would likely have some level of paralysis, bladder and bowel control problems, and possibly poor renal function. In essence, the physician said that Peter will not be a "normal boy," and if he survives, he will live a very difficult, uncomfortable life. Knowing that Peter's parents were low-income, not married, and unlikely able to give Peter the things he would need if he survived, the physician suggested an alternative: letting Peter die. The young couple, still shaken by the news of their newborn's condition, agreed to let Peter pass away. Later that evening, Peter was heavily sedated and left alone to dehydrate and starve to death over the course of several days. This is one example of passive euthanasia for a neonate with a congenital defect. While this particular story is based on hypothetical facts, the events that occurred are quite typical under the circumstances.